This could have been a poll, but I figured getting responses would be better. Since my head gasket blew I can't tell you how many people have asked "why are you fixing that old truck?" or "why don't you just go get a new car?". So, my question to everyone is this, am I the only one who gets these questions? I assume I am not. IT is funny though, the guys who drive Dakotas or older truck, or mudders, don't even ask why I am doing it. It is funny now.

Also, how far wil you go to keep your Dakota running? For example, short of a mangled frame, I will keep repairing it. And even then I woudl go get a new frame and build on it.

 

Shoot i have an 88 and an 89 that i work on, my 88 is a rust bucket but she runs like a champ and with only 126xxx and regular tune ups she will hopefully go double if not more. And than i have my 89 im tearing to frame and buildin back up with a bored V6magnum. Ppl just dont get the bond between a man and his old dakota I love both of mine and will fix em up till i cant anymore. haha.

 

Good thread idea!

Yeah, a lot of people including my parents ask me that all the time. It got brought up when I painted the truck, with the transmission swap, and it keeps getting brought up with the motor I'm building for the old truck. My response to them is always, "have you seen the new dakotas? I wouldn't trade my truck straight up for one of those ugly things!" I like and will always like the styling of these trucks, it's just a shame they don't make them like they used to.

 

I often ask my self that same question...




































Usually right after I bust open my knuckel and am bleeding profusely all over my dodge shirt.
I then continue to cuss and rant, until the bleeding stops.

I then ask my self....
Why, self?
Why do I **** around with this goddam truck? Its not worth anything anyway!

And I usually answer...
Well, dumbass, its because you have no money right now and cant afford anything else.

Then I ask...
Ok, self, Where does all my money go?

I proceded to answer...
Its sitting right there in that goddam driveway. Your wife uses it to pay for her nice truck.

I rebutt...
So why the hell does she get the nice truck that never needs work?

I answer...
because she needs to haul the kids around in something safe and reliable.

I say...
Bull ****! She just wants a nice truck. what do the kids have to do with it.










<click>






I look around and see my wife closing the window in the kitchen and shaking her head at me for arguing with my self whilst im bleeding on the picnic table.





I then ask my self....

Self? How the hell did I get here?

 

Bump187 did you mean to put all those spaces. You can go back and edit it so it looks cleaner.

For me I keep on fixing it because I love it. I could get a 2nd vehicle but now days and people loosing there job left and right. I could afford it but take a $300 vehicle payment and $200 or so for 2 vehicle insurance. And gas for both its way to much.

The reason I will never get rid of this truck is because all the mods I did to it. If an insurance or MVD inspectors see it they will want to classify it as a lemon since engine, tranny, frame all don't match. So that Menes it will be worth $400 tops, thanks to stupid lemon law.

And then once I get a new truck, I will have to start the process of modifying it all again. But once the economy gets back up, my wife wants to get a jeep. For the fuel economy and so we still go offroading.

 

The styling on these trucks is great, and I dont know about the other motors but my 318 rips enough to make everyday driving pretty fun. and with the 4x4 its practical as well up here in MI

 

Because it's the first vehicle I bought. And I like the boxy look.
And I already have put too much money into it to justify getting rid of it!

..And I can't afford another payment right now. (When I can, she might stand side-by-side a Cummins powered Ram!)

 

been sitting in the same seat for 20 years now with the top down in the 89 convertible, havent seen another truck in 20 years i like better.

 

my main reason for putting the money i am into mine is cuz i only paid $150 CND for it. but on top of that, ever since i was young, i wanted a dakota. i wanted the second gen, because i like the look better, but when a 1st gen was thrown my way for that price, who would pass it up? and then i got to driving it tho, and this thing drives just the way i like it to. its a little rough, but thats cuz my suspension is shot, but other than that, its such a comfortable ride. ive driven rams, neons, chevys, fords, and nothing can compare to this truck IMO. im also not a big car fan, they are too hard to get in and out of if your tall (like me..) or big boned. my dak sits just right. plus, how many people can say they dropped a 390 stroker or a 408 stroker or even a 360 into a quarter ton? every project that we all have going, is unique cuz ford fans dont mod their rangers, chevy fans kinda mod s10s, but IMO, s10s are crap and they dont look as good as our daks. ive had a lot of people in the past that have asked me "why are you fixing up that peice of crap" and my response to them was, "why buy something new, when you can fix your old one like new and have a better idea of whats gunna break and when instead of not knowing?" a lot of people have stopped asking me that now, i think they got the idea

 

For me I like the one payment plan. Then I will run it and work on it until the cost and aggravation start to out weigh the cost of just buying another beater and doing the same for it. Autos are just tools to get you from point a to point b.As long as I can haul a ladder or some gravel.